Machine for applying fastening devices to boxes.



G. 'O. MASON. MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES T0 BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1909. 926,670. P nted June 29, 1909.

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G. 0. MASON. MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES T0 BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1909. 926,670. Patented June 29, 1909.

CHARLES OSCAR MASON, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, l\'IASSAGHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING FASTENING DEVICES TO BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed January 9, 1909. Serial No. 471,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES O. Meson, citizen of the United States, residing at North Attleboro, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Fastening Devices to Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a machine for attaching fastening devices to boxes formed of pasteboard or like material, and particularly to that character of fastener which is attached by clenching points or prongs to the box, leaving a tongue projecting in order to pass through the cover, the said tongue being of flexible material and ada ted to be bent down to hold the cover in p ace.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of the upper part of the machine; Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a section substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the block or tool for pressing the fasteners through the material of the box; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View of the main head of the machine and the face plate looking from the front with parts in section; Fig. 7 is a central vertical sectional view of the tool or block with its attached parts; Fig. 8 is a detail view of the fastener which the invention is designed to apply to the box.

In these drawings, 1 indicates a standard within which a rod 2 moves vertically, the said rod carrying, at its upper end, a head 3 attached thereto by a set screw 1. A spring 5 is interposed between the head and the upper end of the main frame or standard 1 of the machine to normally keep the head in its elevated position. This head carries the block or tool 6 which is attached thereto by its stem 7 passing through the forwardly projecting portion 8 of the head, a set screw 9 passing through this forwardly projecting portion and bearing against the stem 7.

This head cooperates with an anvil 10 fixed by a screw 11 to the upper portion of the This anvil is provided fixed standard 1.

with recesses 12, the bottoms of which are curved, and which lie close together in the upper surface of the anvil.

The pressing block or tool 6 carries a pair of guide plungers 13 under tension of springs 1 1 constantly tending to press the plungers down into the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, with their lower ends projecting below the lower surface of the tool or pressing block. These guide plungers are at a distance apart equal to the width of the main portion 15 of the fastener, a detail view of which is shown in Fig. 8. This fastener comprises the downwardly extending prongs or points 16 and the projecting tongue 17. In rear of the guide plungers a holding device is arranged on the Y ressing block or tool for receiving and holdmg the fasteners, this holding device consist ing of a flat spring 18 of substantially right angular form, the vertically extending limb of which is secured by a screw 19 to the back of the pressing block or tool, while its horizontally extending ortion is provided with a curved forward enc 2O resting in a groove 21 formed in the under side of the pressing block. This groove terminates at its front end in a curved recess or portion 22 adapted, as shown in Fig. 7, to receive and guide the tongue 17 of the fastener into engagement with the curved end 20 of the spring holder 18. The spring holder is also held by a pin 22-3 extending down from the lower surface of the pressing block or tool, the function of said pin being to prevent lateral displacement of the holding spring while allowing said spring to have the necessary amount of downward and upward movement at its forward end. This spring lies in a vertical plane, passing between the guide plungers 13, so that, in order to place one of the fasteners in position for insertion into the box, it is simply necessary to thrust one in between the down wardly projecting guides or fingers 13, so that the rearwardly projecting tongue 17 of the fastener will slip into position above the end 20 of the holding spring, and when in position, the forward edge of the main body portion 15 lies substantially flush with the front faces of the guide bars 13.

It will be noticed from Fig. 1 that the anvil )rojects slightly to the front of the main frame or standard, and to the front also of a face plate 24 which is held on the standard by a band 25 fixed thereto by a screw 26. At the front of the face plate there is a gage reciprocating tool or block, spring pressed guide fingers projecting from the pressing block or tool, and having a space between them for receiving the fastener with its prongs bearing upon the inner sides of the 70 said guide fingers, and means carried by the block or tool for receiving the tongue of the fastening device tohold the same in position while being inserted.

2. In a machine of the class described, a 75 reciprocating tool or block, spring pressed guide fingers projecting from the pressing block or tool, and having a space between them for receiving the fastener with its prongs bearing upon the inner sides of the 80 said guide fingers, and means carried by the block or tool for receiving the tongue of the fastening device to hold the same in position while being inserted, said means consisting of a spring finger for engaging the tongue of 85 the fastener, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a machine of the class described, a block or tool having yielding projecting guide fingers to receive the fastener between them and to hold the 90 prongs against outward pressure, and a holding spring to receive the tongue of the fastener and located in rear of and in line with the space between the yielding guide fingers, substantially as described. 95

4. In combination, a pressing block or tool having yielding spring fingers projecting therefrom, and a holding spring in rear of the spring fingers, the said block or tool having a groove for receiving the tongue of the 100 fastener, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a reciprocating tool or block having projecting guides or fingers under spring tension, said block having a groove in its under face, and a holding spring 105 in rear of the spring guides and arranged in said groove, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a block or tool having spring guide fingers and a grooved under face with a curved recess at the front end of 110 said groove, and a spring holder having its forward end arranged in said groove, said forward end being curved downwardly adjacent the curved recess, substantially as described. 115

7. In combination a standard, a reciprocating head, a rod passing vertically through the standard, a spring interposed between the head and standard for elevating the head, a treadle, a shaft to which the treadle 120 is attached, and from which it extends forwardly, a bracket on the standard supporting the said shaft, and a forwardly extending cam on the shaft working upon a portion carried by the vertically movable rod, an 125 anvil, and a pressing tool or block carried by the head, substantially as described.

8. In combination a standard, an anvil projecting forwardly thereof, a face plate to the front of which the anvil projects, a gage 130 consisting of a sheet metal piece 27 having inwardly bent ends 28 to rest upon the front face of the face plate and having a portion 29 secured by a screw 30 to a block 31 fixed by a set screw 32 to an adjustable rod 33 which is supported slidably at the top of the main standard 1, said rod being adapted to be set and held in any desired position by a set screw 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The

gage 27 can thus be set in different positions in relation to the anvil to suit boxes of different sizes, and it may be set either u on the left or the right of said anvil. In p acing a box in position, the open side is placed against the face plate 24 with its edge or side wall, which is to receive the fastener, overhanging and resting upon the upper surface of the anvil and covering the clenching grooves 12. With the box in this position and with a fastener in place on the pressing block or tool and held by the spring 18, the operator, by pressing u on a lever 35, draws the rod 2 downwardly by means of the arm 36 on the shaft 37 to which the foot lever is attached, the said arm 36 working upon a boss or enlargement 38 on the lower end of the rod 2, and the resulting downward movement of the rod will cause the tool or pressing block 6 to descend and force the prongs 16 of the fastener through the pasteboard side of the box, the said prongs being clenched by engaging the clenching grooves 12. During this action, the said guides or fingers maintain the prongs 16 of the fastener in vertical position and against outward spreading until the clenching or inward turning of the prongs has been effected. As the insertion of the fastener is taking place, the guides 13 yield upwardly, and the fastening is completed by 40 the pressure of the block or tool 6 upon the fastening clip, and it is then only necessary to remove the box to complete the operation. When the box is drawn forwardly or removed from the anvil, its prong 17 is withdrawn from the grip of the holding spring 18. When pressure on the treadle is released, the head ascends under the action of the spring 5, and the machine is ready for further operation.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction, excepting as specifically pointed out in the claims. It will be understood, however, that the box, with its ap lied fastener, is not removed from the anvil until after the head descends.

It will be noticed that the face plate 24 has a vertical slot 24. The purpose of this is to receive the prong of the fastener which has already been applied to one end of the box, it

being understood that the fasteners are applied first to one end of the box and then to the other end.

I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, a

consisting of a plate having inturned ends ceive the prong of the fastener first applied, 10 resting upon the face plate, and having a substantially as described.

portion reaching over the upper edge of the In testimony whereof, I aHiX my signature face plate, a rod adjustable in the frame or in presence of two witnesses. 5 standard, and connected to said overreach- CHARLES OSCAR MASON.

mg portion 01 the gage, substantially as described. Witnesses:

9. In combination With an anvil, a face RUSSELL I. RHODES,

plate having a vertical slot or recess to re- ANNIE E. WILLIAMS. 

